Air New Zealand locks in new 777 business class
The Kiwi carrier says its long-range Boeing 777s will be upgraded to the same business class as the 787s.
By David Flynn, May 9 2025
Executive Traveller exclusive
Air New Zealand’s fresh take on its Business Premier business class seats will begin flying this month, and over the coming the suites will find their way onto both refurbished and new Boeing 787s.
But here’s something to cheer: those modern well-appointed suites will also be rolled out on the Kiwi carrier’s remaining Boeing 777s.
The 777 “is going to get a refit in the front half of that cabin, to get as much consistency across all of the (premium) cabins as possible,” the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy O’Brien tells Executive Traveller.
AirNZ's new 787 business class is coming to the 777.
The 777 upgrade will “probably begin around 2028, in about another 18 months to two years,” O’Brien says.
However, the 777’s updated business class cabins will skip the spacious Business Premier Luxe suites which crown the new-generation 787s.
“We won’t put the Luxe into the 777s, but we will absolutely change out that herringbone seat, because we’re holding on for those aircraft a little bit longer,” until the early 2030s.
The upgraded 777s won't get the spacious Business Premier Luxe suites.
“As we get into the 2030s, our entire wide-body fleet will move to the Dreamliner aircraft.”
But until the last 777 is put out to pasture “we want to make sure that we have that consistency.”
That said, the refurbished 777s will keep their current premium economy recliners rather than adopting the new 787 version.
“We’ll leave premium economy as-in because it’s obviously a significant investment” to do any upgrade, O’Brien said, noting that “we’ll only hold those aircraft for about another five or six years.”
The retrofitted 777s will keep their current premium economy and economy seats.
Several of the Star Alliance member’s routes remain especially suited to the workhorse 777, O’Brien notes.
“Tokyo will probably be the 777 for longer (because) it has a very large premium cabin, and we’ve seen that market do really well for us.”
Air New Zealand began flying the Boeing 777 in 2010 as a replacement for the Boeing 747 jumbo jet, and it debuted both the popular economy Skycouch and the innovative but failed premium economy Spaceseat.
Air New Zealand's Business Premier product was already showing its age in 2010...
However, the Business Premier sleepers were already showing their age and were quickly overshadowed by a raft of new business class seats.
The airline kickstarted the new Business Premier program in 2017 as part of a project codenamed ‘Turn Left’, which later evolved into the Future Aircraft Cabin Experience program.
As previously reported, O’Brien also confirmed plans for an ‘Elite Plus’ loyalty tier and an Elite wing of the Auckland International lounge.
David Flynn travelled to Auckland as a guest of Air New Zealand
12 Sep 2024
Total posts 16
Regretfully, after spending for these upgrades, Air NZ has decided to go for these outdated seats which are cramped and narrow instead of opting out for the more spacious Deluxe Seats. It's a "bandaid" solution which, in the long run, does nothing to encourage me as a loyal customer to continue flying with AirNZ.
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
21 Feb 2022
Total posts 8
The 777 upgrade will start in 2028… Is that a typo and should perhaps read as 2026? The sooner NZ replace their ancient reverse herringbone seats the better. I actively avoid NZ at the moment.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer P1
23 Aug 2014
Total posts 158
An eternity before we can rely on the product and not be seduced by the spin
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Mar 2015
Total posts 240
I agree with Chalmersdale that the new seats are only marginally better than those " appalling ' old herring bone disasters!!! I gave up flying J Class with Air NZ because of the horrible seats and these new ones won't change my mind . There are far better carriers out there!!!
Whilst Air NZ has very good inflight services they fall well short in their choice of seating.
Emirates
11 May 2025
Total posts 2
Sadly, I have to agree with all the above comments. Since spending a flight to Singapore in J a couple of years ago and had the dubious delight of looking at a passengers feet for the duration I finally decided it was time to give up flying business class with Air NZ. Can't fault the the cabin crew who are a credit to the airline, food, or cleanliness of the 787's but oh my, those herring bone seats, no thanks. Until they opt for forward facing it's other airlines for me.
16 Jun 2023
Total posts 11
QF
04 Apr 2014
Total posts 212
On a recent AirNZ flight the cabin crew stated that rather than use the new 787 seats, they’d be using an off the shelf seat used by other 777 operators. Makes more sense given the different cabin dimensions of the 777 and the limited time AirNZ plans to keep flying them.
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